System and method for distributing media related to a location

ABSTRACT

A system and method for distributing media related to a location. The physical location of a media presentation device is received over a network. The physical location of a plurality of end users are identified, via the network, wherein each of plurality of users is associated with a user device capable of storing media files. At least one of the end users is identified who is located in such proximity to the media presentation device that the user can perceive media that presented on the media presentation device. At least one media file that is currently being presented on the media presentation device is identified and transmitted over the network to each of the identified end users.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of and claims the benefit of U.S.patent application Ser. No. 12/234,000, entitled “System and Method forDistributing Media Related to a Location” and filed Sep. 19, 2008, whichis incorporated herein in its entirety by this reference

This application includes material which is subject to copyrightprotection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimilereproduction by anyone of the patent disclosure, as it appears in thePatent and Trademark Office files or records, but otherwise reserves allcopyright rights whatsoever.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to systems and methods for distributingmedia on a to users on a network and, more particularly, to systems andmethods for distributing media on a to users on a network related tolocations the users have visited.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A great deal of information is generated when people use electronicdevices, such as when people use mobile phones and cable set-top boxes.Such information, such as location, applications used, social network,physical and online locations visited, to name a few, could be used todeliver useful services and information to end users, and providecommercial opportunities to advertisers and retailers. However, most ofthis information is effectively abandoned due to deficiencies in the waysuch information can be captured. For example, and with respect to amobile phone, information is generally not gathered while the mobilephone is idle (i.e., not being used by a user). Other information, suchas presence of others in the immediate vicinity, time and frequency ofmessages to other users, and activities of a user's social network arealso not captured effectively.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one embodiment, the invention is a method. The physical location of amedia presentation device is received over a network. The physicallocation of a plurality of end users are identified, via the network,wherein each of plurality of users is associated with a user devicecapable of storing media files. At least one of the end users isidentified who is located in such proximity to the media presentationdevice that the user can perceive media that presented on the mediapresentation device. At least one media file that is currently beingpresented on the media presentation device is identified and transmittedover the network to each of the identified end users.

In one embodiment, the invention is a system comprising: a locationtracking module that receives, over a network, the physical location ofa plurality of media presentation devices and the physical location of aplurality of end users, wherein each of plurality of users areassociated with a user device capable of storing media files; aneligible user identification module that identifies end users who arelocated in such proximity to a media presentation devices that the atthe end users can perceive media that is presented on the mediapresentation devices; a location related media identification modulethat identifies at least one media file that is currently beingpresented on media presentation devices; and a media delivery modulethat transmits, over the network, identified media file to the userdevices of the end users.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing and other objects, features, and advantages of theinvention will be apparent from the following more particulardescription of preferred embodiments as illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, in which reference characters refer to the same partsthroughout the various views. The drawings are not necessarily to scale,emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating principles of theinvention.

FIG. 1 illustrates relationships between real-world entities (RWE) andinformation objects (IO) on one embodiment of a W4 CommunicationsNetwork (W4 COMN.)

FIG. 2 illustrates metadata defining the relationships between RWEs andIOs on one embodiment of a W4 COMN.

FIG. 3 illustrates a conceptual model of one embodiment of a W4 COMN.

FIG. 4 illustrates the functional layers of one embodiment of the W4COMN architecture.

FIG. 5 illustrates the analysis components of one embodiment of a W4engine as shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 illustrates one embodiment of a W4 engine showing differentcomponents within the sub-engines shown in FIG. 5.

FIG. 7. illustrates one embodiment of the use of a W4 COMN for locationbased media delivery.

FIG. 8 illustrates one embodiment of how the users and devices shown inFIG. 7 can be defined to a W4 COMN.

FIG. 9 illustrates one embodiment of a data model showing how the RWEsshown in FIG. 8 can be related to entities and objects within a W4 COMN.

FIG. 10 illustrates one embodiment of a process which uses temporal,spatial, and social data to provide customized music for a locationcontaining one or more individuals or businesses.

FIG. 11 illustrates one embodiment of a location based media deliveryengine that is capable of providing location-based media delivery withina network.

FIG. 12 illustrates one embodiment of the use of a W4 COMN fordistributing media related to a location.

FIG. 13 illustrates one embodiment of how the users and devices shown inFIG. 12 can be defined to a W4 COMN.

FIG. 14 illustrates one embodiment of a data model showing how the RWEsshown in FIG. 13 can be related to entities and objects within a W4COMN.

FIG. 15 illustrates one embodiment of a process 2000 of how a network,for example, a W4 COMN, can use temporal, spatial, and social data todistribute media related to a location to users known to the network.

FIG. 16 illustrates one embodiment of a location related media deliveryengine 3000 that is capable of providing delivering media related to alocation to eligible users within a network, for example, a W4 COMN.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention is described below with reference to blockdiagrams and operational illustrations of methods and devices to selectand present media related to a specific topic. It is understood thateach block of the block diagrams or operational illustrations, andcombinations of blocks in the block diagrams or operationalillustrations, can be implemented by means of analog or digital hardwareand computer program instructions.

These computer program instructions can be provided to a processor of ageneral purpose computer, special purpose computer, ASIC, or otherprogrammable data processing apparatus, such that the instructions,which execute via the processor of the computer or other programmabledata processing apparatus, implements the functions/acts specified inthe block diagrams or operational block or blocks.

In some alternate implementations, the functions/acts noted in theblocks can occur out of the order noted in the operationalillustrations. For example, two blocks shown in succession can in factbe executed substantially concurrently or the blocks can sometimes beexecuted in the reverse order, depending upon the functionality/actsinvolved.

For the purposes of this disclosure the term “server” should beunderstood to refer to a service point which provides processing,database, and communication facilities. By way of example, and notlimitation, the term “server” can refer to a single, physical processorwith associated communications and data storage and database facilities,or it can refer to a networked or clustered complex of processors andassociated network and storage devices, as well as operating softwareand one or more database systems and applications software which supportthe services provided by the server.

For the purposes of this disclosure the term “end user” or “user” shouldbe understood to refer to a consumer of data supplied by a dataprovider. By way of example, and not limitation, the term “end user” canrefer to a person who receives data provided by the data provider overthe Internet in a browser session, or can refer to an automated softwareapplication which receives the data and stores or processes the data.

For the purposes of this disclosure the term “media” and “media content”should be understood to refer to binary data which contains contentwhich can be of interest to an end user. By way of example, and notlimitation, the term “media” and “media content” can refer to multimediadata, such as video data or audio data, or any other form of datacapable of being transformed into a form perceivable by an end user.Such data can, furthermore, be encoded in any manner currently known, orwhich can be developed in the future, for specific purposes. By way ofexample, and not limitation, the data can be encrypted, compressed,and/or can contained embedded metadata.

For the purposes of this disclosure, a computer readable medium storescomputer data in machine readable form. By way of example, and notlimitation, a computer readable medium can comprise computer storagemedia and communication media. Computer storage media includes volatileand non-volatile, removable and non-removable media implemented in anymethod or technology for storage of information such ascomputer-readable instructions, data structures, program modules orother data. Computer storage media includes, but is not limited to, RAM,ROM, EPROM, EEPROM, flash memory or other solid-state memory technology,CD-ROM, DVD, or other optical storage, magnetic cassettes, magnetictape, magnetic disk storage or other mass storage devices, or any othermedium which can be used to store the desired information and which canbe accessed by the computer.

For the purposes of this disclosure a module is a software, hardware, orfirmware (or combinations thereof) system, process or functionality, orcomponent thereof, that performs or facilitates the processes, features,and/or functions described herein (with or without human interaction oraugmentation). A module can include sub-modules. Software components ofa module may be stored on a computer readable medium. Modules may beintegral to one or more servers, or be loaded and executed by one ormore servers. One or more modules may grouped into an engine or anapplication.

For the purposes of this disclosure an engine is a software, hardware,or firmware (or combinations thereof) system, process or functionalitythat performs or facilitates the processes, features, and/or functionsdescribed herein (with or without human interaction or augmentation).

Embodiments of the present invention utilize information provided by anetwork which is capable of providing data collected and stored bymultiple devices on a network. Such information may include, withoutlimitation, temporal information, spatial information, and userinformation relating to a specific user or hardware device. Userinformation may include, without limitation, user demographics, userpreferences, user social networks, and user behavior. One embodiment ofsuch a network is a W4 Communications Network.

A “W4 Communications Network” or W4 COMN, provides information relatedto the “Who, What, When and Where” of interactions within the network.In one embodiment, the W4 COMN is a collection of users, devices andprocesses that foster both synchronous and asynchronous communicationsbetween users and their proxies providing an instrumented network ofsensors providing data recognition and collection in real-worldenvironments about any subject, location, user or combination thereof.

In one embodiment, the W4 COMN can handle the routing/addressing,scheduling, filtering, prioritization, replying, forwarding, storing,deleting, privacy, transacting, triggering of a new message, propagatingchanges, transcoding and linking Furthermore, these actions can beperformed on any communication channel accessible by the W4 COMN.

In one embodiment, the W4 COMN uses a data modeling strategy forcreating profiles for not only users and locations, but also any deviceon the network and any kind of user-defined data with user-specifiedconditions. Using Social, Spatial, Temporal and Logical data availableabout a specific user, topic or logical data object, every entity knownto the W4 COMN can be mapped and represented against all other knownentities and data objects in order to create both a micro graph forevery entity as well as a global graph that relates all known entitieswith one another. In one embodiment, such relationships between entitiesand data objects are stored in a global index within the W4 COMN.

In one embodiment, a W4 COMN network relates to what may be termed“real-world entities”, hereinafter referred to as RWEs. A RWE refers to,without limitation, a person, device, location, or other physical thingknown to a W4 COMN. In one embodiment, each RWE known to a W4 COMN isassigned a unique W4 identification number that identifies the RWEwithin the W4 COMN.

RWEs can interact with the network directly or through proxies, whichcan themselves be RWEs. Examples of RWEs that interact directly with theW4 COMN include any device such as a sensor, motor, or other piece ofhardware connected to the W4 COMN in order to receive or transmit dataor control signals. RWE may include all devices that can serve asnetwork nodes or generate, request and/or consume data in a networkedenvironment or that can be controlled through a network. Such devicesinclude any kind of “dumb” device purpose-designed to interact with anetwork (e.g., cell phones, cable television set top boxes, faxmachines, telephones, and radio frequency identification (RFID) tags,sensors, etc.).

Examples of RWEs that may use proxies to interact with W4 COMN networkinclude non-electronic entities including physical entities, such aspeople, locations (e.g., states, cities, houses, buildings, airports,roads, etc.) and things (e.g., animals, pets, livestock, gardens,physical objects, cars, airplanes, works of art, etc.), and intangibleentities such as business entities, legal entities, groups of people orsports teams. In addition, “smart” devices (e.g., computing devices suchas smart phones, smart set top boxes, smart cars that supportcommunication with other devices or networks, laptop computers, personalcomputers, server computers, satellites, etc.) may be considered RWEthat use proxies to interact with the network, where softwareapplications executing on the device that serve as the devices' proxies.

In one embodiment, a W4 COMN may allow associations between RWEs to bedetermined and tracked. For example, a given user (an RWE) can beassociated with any number and type of other RWEs including otherpeople, cell phones, smart credit cards, personal data assistants, emailand other communication service accounts, networked computers, smartappliances, set top boxes and receivers for cable television and othermedia services, and any other networked device. This association can bemade explicitly by the user, such as when the RWE is installed into theW4 COMN.

An example of this is the set up of a new cell phone, cable televisionservice or email account in which a user explicitly identifies an RWE(e.g., the user's phone for the cell phone service, the user's set topbox and/or a location for cable service, or a username and password forthe online service) as being directly associated with the user. Thisexplicit association can include the user identifying a specificrelationship between the user and the RWE (e.g., this is my device, thisis my home appliance, this person is my friend/father/son/etc., thisdevice is shared between me and other users, etc.). RWEs can also beimplicitly associated with a user based on a current situation. Forexample, a weather sensor on the W4 COMN can be implicitly associatedwith a user based on information indicating that the user lives or ispassing near the sensor's location.

In one embodiment, a W4 COMN network may additionally include what maybe termed “information-objects”, hereinafter referred to as IOs. Aninformation object (IO) is a logical object that may store, maintain,generate or otherwise provides data for use by RWEs and/or the W4 COMN.In one embodiment, data within in an IO can be revised by the act of anRWE An IO within in a W4 COMN can be provided a unique W4 identificationnumber that identifies the IO within the W4 COMN.

In one embodiment, IOs include passive objects such as communicationsignals (e.g., digital and analog telephone signals, streaming media andinterprocess communications), email messages, transaction records,virtual cards, event records (e.g., a data file identifying a time,possibly in combination with one or more RWEs such as users andlocations, that can further be associated with a knowntopic/activity/significance such as a concert, rally, meeting, sportingevent, etc.), recordings of phone calls, calendar entries, web pages,database entries, electronic media objects (e.g., media files containingsongs, videos, pictures, images, audio messages, phone calls, etc.),electronic files and associated metadata.

In one embodiment, IOs include any executing process or application thatconsumes or generates data such as an email communication application(such as OUTLOOK by MICROSOFT, or YAHOO! MAIL by YAHOO!), a calendaringapplication, a word processing application, an image editingapplication, a media player application, a weather monitoringapplication, a browser application and a web page server application.Such active IOs can or can not serve as a proxy for one or more RWEs.For example, voice communication software on a smart phone can serve asthe proxy for both the smart phone and for the owner of the smart phone.

In one embodiment, for every IO there are at least three classes ofassociated RWEs. The first is the RWE that owns or controls the IO,whether as the creator or a rights holder (e.g., an RWE with editingrights or use rights to the IO). The second is the RWE(s) that the IOrelates to, for example by containing information about the RWE or thatidentifies the RWE. The third are any RWEs that access the IO in orderto obtain data from the IO for some purpose.

Within the context of a W4 COMN, “available data” and “W4 data” meansdata that exists in an IO or data that can be collected from a known IOor RWE such as a deployed sensor. Within the context of a W4 COMN,“sensor” means any source of W4 data including PCs, phones, portable PCsor other wireless devices, household devices, cars, appliances, securityscanners, video surveillance, RFID tags in clothes, products andlocations, online data or any other source of information about areal-world user/topic/thing (RWE) or logic-basedagent/process/topic/thing (IO).

FIG. 1 illustrates one embodiment of relationships between RWEs and IOson a W4 COMN. A user 102 is a RWE provided with a unique network ID. Theuser 102 may be a human that communicates with the network using proxydevices 104, 106, 108, 110 associated with the user 102, all of whichare RWEs having a unique network ID. These proxies can communicatedirectly with the W4 COMN or can communicate with the W4 COMN using IOssuch as applications executed on or by a proxy device.

In one embodiment, the proxy devices 104, 106, 108, 110 can beexplicitly associated with the user 102. For example, one device 104 canbe a smart phone connected by a cellular service provider to the networkand another device 106 can be a smart vehicle that is connected to thenetwork. Other devices can be implicitly associated with the user 102.

For example, one device 108 can be a “dumb” weather sensor at a locationmatching the current location of the user's cell phone 104, and thusimplicitly associated with the user 102 while the two RWEs 104, 108 areco-located. Another implicitly associated device 110 can be a sensor 110for physical location 112 known to the W4 COMN. The location 112 isknown, either explicitly (through a user-designated relationship, e.g.,this is my home, place of employment, parent, etc.) or implicitly (theuser 102 is often co-located with the RWE 112 as evidenced by data fromthe sensor 110 at that location 112), to be associated with the firstuser 102.

The user 102 can be directly associated with one or more persons 140,and indirectly associated with still more persons 142, 144 through achain of direct associations. Such associations can be explicit (e.g.,the user 102 can have identified the associated person 140 as his/herfather, or can have identified the person 140 as a member of the user'ssocial network) or implicit (e.g., they share the same address).Tracking the associations between people (and other RWEs as well) allowsthe creation of the concept of “intimacy”, where intimacy may be definedas a measure of the degree of association between two people or RWEs.For example, each degree of removal between RWEs can be considered alower level of intimacy, and assigned lower intimacy score. Intimacy canbe based solely on explicit social data or can be expanded to includeall W4 data including spatial data and temporal data.

In one embodiment, each RWE 102, 104, 106, 108, 110, 112, 140, 142, 144of a W4 COMN can be associated with one or more IOs as shown. FIG. 1illustrates two IOs 122, 124 as associated with the cell phone device104. One IO 122 can be a passive data object such as an event recordthat is used by scheduling/calendaring software on the cell phone, acontact IO used by an address book application, a historical record of atransaction made using the device 104 or a copy of a message sent fromthe device 104. The other IO 124 can be an active software process orapplication that serves as the device's proxy to the W4 COMN bytransmitting or receiving data via the W4 COMN. Voice communicationsoftware, scheduling/calendaring software, an address book applicationor a text messaging application are all examples of IOs that cancommunicate with other IOs and RWEs on the network. IOs may additionallyrelate to topics of interest to one or more RWEs, such topics including,without limitation, musical artists, genre of music, a location and soforth.

The IOs 122, 124 can be locally stored on the device 104 or storedremotely on some node or datastore accessible to the W4 COMN, such as amessage server or cell phone service datacenter. The IO 126 associatedwith the vehicle 108 can be an electronic file containing thespecifications and/or current status of the vehicle 108, such as make,model, identification number, current location, current speed, currentcondition, current owner, etc. The IO 128 associated with sensor 108 canidentify the current state of the subject(s) monitored by the sensor108, such as current weather or current traffic. The IO 130 associatedwith the cell phone 110 can be information in a database identifyingrecent calls or the amount of charges on the current bill.

RWEs which can only interact with the W4 COMN through proxies, such aspeople 102, 140, 142, 144, computing devices 104, 106 and locations 112,can have one or more IOs 132, 134, 146, 148, 150 directly associatedwith them which contain RWE-specific information for the associated RWE.For example, IOs associated with a person 132, 146, 148, 150 can includea user profile containing email addresses, telephone numbers, physicaladdresses, user preferences, identification of devices and other RWEsassociated with the user. The IOs may additionally include records ofthe user's past interactions with other RWEs on the W4 COMN (e.g.,transaction records, copies of messages, listings of time and locationcombinations recording the user's whereabouts in the past), the uniqueW4 COMN identifier for the location and/or any relationship information(e.g., explicit user-designations of the user's relationships withrelatives, employers, co-workers, neighbors, service providers, etc.).

Another example of IOs associated with a person 132, 146, 148, 150includes remote applications through which a person can communicate withthe W4 COMN such as an account with a web-based email service such asYahoo! Mail. A location's IO 134 can contain information such as theexact coordinates of the location, driving directions to the location, aclassification of the location (residence, place of business, public,non-public, etc.), information about the services or products that canbe obtained at the location, the unique W4 COMN identifier for thelocation, businesses located at the location, photographs of thelocation, etc.

In one embodiment, RWEs and IOs are correlated to identify relationshipsbetween them. RWEs and IOs may be correlated using metadata. Forexample, if an IO is a music file, metadata for the file can includedata identifying the artist, song, etc., album art, and the format ofthe music data. This metadata can be stored as part of the music file orin one or more different IOs that are associated with the music file orboth. W4 metadata can additionally include the owner of the music fileand the rights the owner has in the music file. As another example, ifthe IO is a picture taken by an electronic camera, the picture caninclude in addition to the primary image data from which an image can becreated on a display, metadata identifying when the picture was taken,where the camera was when the picture was taken, what camera took thepicture, who, if anyone, is associated (e.g., designated as the camera'sowner) with the camera, and who and what are the subjects of/in thepicture. The W4 COMN uses all the available metadata in order toidentify implicit and explicit associations between entities and dataobjects.

FIG. 2 illustrates one embodiment of metadata defining the relationshipsbetween RWEs and IOs on the W4 COMN. In the embodiment shown, an IO 202includes object data 204 and five discrete items of metadata 206, 208,210, 212, 214. Some items of metadata 208, 210, 212 can containinformation related only to the object data 204 and unrelated to anyother IO or RWE. For example, a creation date, text or an image that isto be associated with the object data 204 of the IO 202.

Some of items of metadata 206, 214, on the other hand, can identifyrelationships between the IO 202 and other RWEs and IOs. As illustrated,the IO 202 is associated by one item of metadata 206 with an RWE 220that RWE 220 is further associated with two IOs 224, 226 and a secondRWE 222 based on some information known to the W4 COMN. For example,could describe the relations between an image (IO 202) containingmetadata 206 that identifies the electronic camera (the first RWE 220)and the user (the second RWE 224) that is known by the system to be theowner of the camera 220. Such ownership information can be determined,for example, from one or another of the IOs 224, 226 associated with thecamera 220.

FIG. 2 also illustrates metadata 214 that associates the IO 202 withanother IO 230. This IO 230 is itself associated with three other IOs232, 234, 236 that are further associated with different RWEs 242, 244,246. This part of FIG. 2, for example, could describe the relationsbetween a music file (IO 202) containing metadata 206 that identifiesthe digital rights file (the first IO 230) that defines the scope of therights of use associated with this music file 202. The other IOs 232,234, 236 are other music files that are associated with the rights ofuse and which are currently associated with specific owners (RWEs 242,244, 246).

FIG. 3 illustrates one embodiment of a conceptual model of a W4 COMN.The W4 COMN 300 creates an instrumented messaging infrastructure in theform of a global logical network cloud conceptually sub-divided intonetworked-clouds for each of the 4 Ws: Who, Where, What and When. In theWho cloud 302 are all users whether acting as senders, receivers, datapoints or confirmation/certification sources as well as user proxies inthe forms of user-program processes, devices, agents, calendars, etc.

In the Where cloud 304 are all physical locations, events, sensors orother RWEs associated with a spatial reference point or location. TheWhen cloud 306 is composed of natural temporal events (that is eventsthat are not associated with particular location or person such as days,times, seasons) as well as collective user temporal events (holidays,anniversaries, elections, etc.) and user-defined temporal events(birthdays, smart-timing programs).

The What cloud 308 is comprised of all known data—web or private,commercial or user—accessible to the W4 COMN, including for exampleenvironmental data like weather and news, RWE-generated data, IOs and IOdata, user data, models, processes and applications. Thus, conceptually,most data is contained in the What cloud 308.

Some entities, sensors or data may potentially exist in multiple cloudseither disparate in time or simultaneously. Additionally, some IOs andRWEs can be composites in that they combine elements from one or moreclouds. Such composites can be classified as appropriate to facilitatethe determination of associations between RWEs and IOs. For example, anevent consisting of a location and time could be equally classifiedwithin the When cloud 306, the What cloud 308 and/or the Where cloud304.

In one embodiment, a W4 engine 310 is center of the W4 COMN'sintelligence for making all decisions in the W4 COMN. The W4 engine 310controls all interactions between each layer of the W4 COMN and isresponsible for executing any approved user or application objectiveenabled by W4 COMN operations or interoperating applications. In anembodiment, the W4 COMN is an open platform with standardized, publishedAPIs for requesting (among other things) synchronization,disambiguation, user or topic addressing, access rights, prioritizationor other value-based ranking, smart scheduling, automation and topical,social, spatial or temporal alerts.

One function of the W4 COMN is to collect data concerning allcommunications and interactions conducted via the W4 COMN, which caninclude storing copies of IOs and information identifying all RWEs andother information related to the IOs (e.g., who, what, when, whereinformation). Other data collected by the W4 COMN can includeinformation about the status of any given RWE and IO at any given time,such as the location, operational state, monitored conditions (e.g., foran RWE that is a weather sensor, the current weather conditions beingmonitored or for an RWE that is a cell phone, its current location basedon the cellular towers it is in contact with) and current status.

The W4 engine 310 is also responsible for identifying RWEs andrelationships between RWEs and IOs from the data and communicationstreams passing through the W4 COMN. The function of identifying RWEsassociated with or implicated by IOs and actions performed by other RWEsmay be referred to as entity extraction. Entity extraction can includeboth simple actions, such as identifying the sender and receivers of aparticular IO, and more complicated analyses of the data collected byand/or available to the W4 COMN, for example determining that a messagelisted the time and location of an upcoming event and associating thatevent with the sender and receiver(s) of the message based on thecontext of the message or determining that an RWE is stuck in a trafficjam based on a correlation of the RWE's location with the status of aco-located traffic monitor.

It should be noted that when performing entity extraction from an IO,the IO can be an opaque object with only where only W4 metadata relatedto the object is visible, but internal data of the IO (i.e., the actualprimary or object data contained within the object) are not, and thusmetadata extraction is limited to the metadata. Alternatively, ifinternal data of the IO is visible, it can also be used in entityextraction, e.g. strings within an email are extracted and associated asRWEs to for use in determining the relationships between the sender,user, topic or other RWE or IO impacted by the object or process.

In the embodiment shown, the W4 engine 310 can be one or a group ofdistributed computing devices, such as a general-purpose personalcomputers (PCs) or purpose built server computers, connected to the W4COMN by communication hardware and/or software. Such computing devicescan be a single device or a group of devices acting together. Computingdevices can be provided with any number of program modules and datafiles stored in a local or remote mass storage device and local memory(e.g., RAM) of the computing device. For example, as mentioned above, acomputing device can include an operating system suitable forcontrolling the operation of a networked computer, such as the WINDOWSXP or WINDOWS SERVER operating systems from MICROSOFT CORPORATION.

Some RWEs can also be computing devices such as, without limitation,smart phones, web-enabled appliances, PCs, laptop computers, andpersonal data assistants (PDAs). Computing devices can be connected toone or more communications networks such as the Internet, a publiclyswitched telephone network, a cellular telephone network, a satellitecommunication network, a wired communication network such as a cabletelevision or private area network. Computing devices can be connectedany such network via a wired data connection or wireless connection suchas a wi-fi, a WiMAX (802.36), a Bluetooth or a cellular telephoneconnection.

Local data structures, including discrete IOs, can be stored on acomputer-readable medium (not shown) that is connected to, or part of,any of the computing devices described herein including the W4 engine310. For example, in one embodiment, the data backbone of the W4 COMN,discussed below, includes multiple mass storage devices that maintainthe IOs, metadata and data necessary to determine relationships betweenRWEs and IOs as described herein.

FIG. 4 illustrates one embodiment of the functional layers of a W4 COMNarchitecture. At the lowest layer, referred to as the sensor layer 402,is the network 404 of the actual devices, users, nodes and other RWEs.Sensors include known technologies like web analytics, GPS, cell-towerpings, use logs, credit card transactions, online purchases, explicituser profiles and implicit user profiling achieved through behavioraltargeting, search analysis and other analytics models used to optimizespecific network applications or functions.

The data layer 406 stores and catalogs the data produced by the sensorlayer 402. The data can be managed by either the network 404 of sensorsor the network infrastructure 406 that is built on top of theinstrumented network of users, devices, agents, locations, processes andsensors. The network infrastructure 408 is the core under-the-coversnetwork infrastructure that includes the hardware and software necessaryto receive that transmit data from the sensors, devices, etc. of thenetwork 404. It further includes the processing and storage capabilitynecessary to meaningfully categorize and track the data created by thenetwork 404.

The user profiling layer 410 performs the W4 COMN's user profilingfunctions. This layer 410 can further be distributed between the networkinfrastructure 408 and user applications/processes 412 executing on theW4 engine or disparate user computing devices. Personalization isenabled across any single or combination of communication channels andmodes including email, IM, texting (SMS, etc.), photo-blogging, audio(e.g. telephone call), video (teleconferencing, live broadcast), games,data confidence processes, security, certification or any other W4 COMMprocess call for available data.

In one embodiment, the user profiling layer 410 is a logic-based layerabove all sensors to which sensor data are sent in the rawest form to bemapped and placed into the W4 COMN data backbone 420. The data(collected and refined, related and deduplicated, synchronized anddisambiguated) are then stored in one or a collection of relateddatabases available applications approved on the W4 COMN.Network-originating actions and communications are based upon the fieldsof the data backbone, and some of these actions are such that theythemselves become records somewhere in the backbone, e.g. invoicing,while others, e.g. fraud detection, synchronization, disambiguation, canbe done without an impact to profiles and models within the backbone.

Actions originating from outside the network, e.g., RWEs such as users,locations, proxies and processes, come from the applications layer 414of the W4 COMN. Some applications can be developed by the W4 COMNoperator and appear to be implemented as part of the communicationsinfrastructure 408, e.g. email or calendar programs because of howclosely they operate with the sensor processing and user profiling layer410. The applications 412 also serve as a sensor in that they, throughtheir actions, generate data back to the data layer 406 via the databackbone concerning any data created or available due to theapplications execution.

In one embodiment, the applications layer 414 can also provide a userinterface (UI) based on device, network, carrier as well asuser-selected or security-based customizations. Any UI can operatewithin the W4 COMN if it is instrumented to provide data on userinteractions or actions back to the network. In the case of W4 COMNenabled mobile devices, the UI can also be used to confirm ordisambiguate incomplete W4 data in real-time, as well as correlation,triangulation and synchronization sensors for other nearby enabled ornon-enabled devices.

At some point, the network effects enough enabled devices allow thenetwork to gather complete or nearly complete data (sufficient forprofiling and tracking) of a non-enabled device because of its regularintersection and sensing by enabled devices in its real-world location.

Above the applications layer 414, or hosted within it, is thecommunications delivery network 416. The communications delivery networkcan be operated by the W4 COMN operator or be independent third-partycarrier service. Data may be delivered via synchronous or asynchronouscommunication. In every case, the communication delivery network 414will be sending or receiving data on behalf of a specific application ornetwork infrastructure 408 request.

The communication delivery layer 418 also has elements that act assensors including W4 entity extraction from phone calls, emails, blogs,etc. as well as specific user commands within the delivery networkcontext. For example, “save and prioritize this call” said before end ofcall can trigger a recording of the previous conversation to be savedand for the W4 entities within the conversation to analyzed andincreased in weighting prioritization decisions in thepersonalization/user profiling layer 410.

FIG. 5 illustrates one embodiment of the analysis components of a W4engine as shown in FIG. 3. As discussed above, the W4 Engine isresponsible for identifying RWEs and relationships between RWEs and IOsfrom the data and communication streams passing through the W4 COMN.

In one embodiment the W4 engine connects, interoperates and instrumentsall network participants through a series of sub-engines that performdifferent operations in the entity extraction process. The attributionengine 504 tracks the real-world ownership, control, publishing or otherconditional rights of any RWE in any IO. Whenever a new 10 is detectedby the W4 engine 502, e.g., through creation or transmission of a newmessage, a new transaction record, a new image file, etc., ownership isassigned to the IO The attribution engine 504 creates this ownershipinformation and further allows this information to be determined foreach IO known to the W4 COMN.

The correlation engine 506 can operates two capacities: first, toidentify associated RWEs and IOs and their relationships (such as bycreating a combined graph of any combination of RWEs and IOs and theirattributes, relationships and reputations within contexts or situations)and second, as a sensor analytics pre-processor for attention eventsfrom any internal or external source.

In one embodiment, the identification of associated RWEs and IOsfunction of the correlation engine 506 is done by graphing the availabledata, using, for example, one or more histograms A histogram is amapping technique that counts the number of observations that fall intovarious disjoint categories (i.e. bins.). By selecting each IO, RWE, andother known parameters (e.g., times, dates, locations, etc.) asdifferent bins and mapping the available data, relationships betweenRWEs, IOs and the other parameters can be identified. A histogram of allRWEs and IOs is created, from which correlations based on the graph canbe made.

As a pre-processor, the correlation engine 506 monitors the informationprovided by RWEs in order to determine if any conditions are identifiedthat can trigger an action on the part of the W4 engine 502. Forexample, if a delivery condition has been associated with a message,when the correlation engine 506 determines that the condition is met, itcan transmit the appropriate trigger information to the W4 engine 502that triggers delivery of the message.

The attention engine 508 instruments all appropriate network nodes,clouds, users, applications or any combination thereof and includesclose interaction with both the correlation engine 506 and theattribution engine 504.

FIG. 6 illustrates one embodiment of a W4 engine showing differentcomponents within the sub-engines described above with reference to FIG.4. In one embodiment the W4 engine 602 includes an attention engine 608,attribution engine 604 and correlation engine 606 with severalsub-managers based upon basic function.

The attention engine 608 includes a message intake and generationmanager 610 as well as a message delivery manager 612 that work closelywith both a message matching manager 614 and a real-time communicationsmanager 616 to deliver and instrument all communications across the W4COMN.

The attribution engine 604 works within the user profile manager 618 andin conjunction with all other modules to identify, process/verify andrepresent ownership and rights information related to RWEs, IOs andcombinations thereof.

The correlation engine 606 dumps data from both of its channels (sensorsand processes) into the same data backbone 620 which is organized andcontrolled by the W4 analytics manager 622. The data backbone 620includes both aggregated and individualized archived versions of datafrom all network operations including user logs 624, attention rankplace logs 626, web indices and environmental logs 618, e-commerce andfinancial transaction information 630, search indexes and logs 632,sponsor content or conditionals, ad copy and any and all other data usedin any W4COMN process, IO or event. Because of the amount of data thatthe W4 COMN will potentially store, the data backbone 620 includesnumerous database servers and datastores in communication with the W4COMN to provide sufficient storage capacity.

The data collected by the W4 COMN includes spatial data, temporal data,RWE interaction data, IO content data (e.g., media data), and user dataincluding explicitly-provided and deduced social and relationship data.Spatial data can be any data identifying a location associated with anRWE. For example, the spatial data can include any passively collectedlocation data, such as cell tower data, global packet radio service(GPRS) data, global positioning service (GPS) data, WI-FI data, personalarea network data, IP address data and data from other network accesspoints, or actively collected location data, such as location dataentered by the user.

Temporal data is time based data (e.g., time stamps) that relate tospecific times and/or events associated with a user and/or theelectronic device. For example, the temporal data can be passivelycollected time data (e.g., time data from a clock resident on theelectronic device, or time data from a network clock), or the temporaldata can be actively collected time data, such as time data entered bythe user of the electronic device (e.g., a user maintained calendar).

Logical and IO data refers to the data contained by an IO as well asdata associated with the IO such as creation time, owner, associatedRWEs, when the IO was last accessed, the topic or subject of the IO(from message content or “re” or subject line, as some examples) etc.For example, an IO may relate to media data. Media data can include anydata relating to presentable media, such as audio data, visual data, andaudiovisual data. Audio data can be data relating to downloaded music,such as genre, artist, album and the like, and includes data regardingringtones, ringbacks, media purchased, playlists, and media shared, toname a few. The visual data can be data relating to images and/or textreceived by the electronic device (e.g., via the Internet or othernetwork). The visual data can be data relating to images and/or textsent from and/or captured at the electronic device.

Audiovisual data can be data associated with any videos captured at,downloaded to, or otherwise associated with the electronic device. Themedia data includes media presented to the user via a network, such asuse of the Internet, and includes data relating to text entered and/orreceived by the user using the network (e.g., search terms), andinteraction with the network media, such as click data (e.g.,advertisement banner clicks, bookmarks, click patterns and the like).Thus, the media data can include data relating to the user's RSS feeds,subscriptions, group memberships, game services, alerts, and the like.

The media data can include non-network activity, such as image captureand/or video capture using an electronic device, such as a mobile phone.The image data can include metadata added by the user, or other dataassociated with the image, such as, with respect to photos, locationwhen the photos were taken, direction of the shot, content of the shot,and time of day, to name a few. Media data can be used, for example, todeduce activities information or preferences information, such ascultural and/or buying preferences information.

Relationship data can include data relating to the relationships of anRWE or IO to another RWE or IO. For example, the relationship data caninclude user identity data, such as gender, age, race, name, socialsecurity number, photographs and other information associated with theuser's identity. User identity information can also include e-mailaddresses, login names and passwords. Relationship data can furtherinclude data identifying explicitly associated RWEs. For example,relationship data for a cell phone can indicate the user that owns thecell phone and the company that provides the service to the phone. Asanother example, relationship data for a smart car can identify theowner, a credit card associated with the owner for payment of electronictolls, those users permitted to drive the car and the service stationfor the car.

Relationship data can also include social network data. Social networkdata includes data relating to any relationship that is explicitlydefined by a user or other RWE, such as data relating to a user'sfriends, family, co-workers, business relations, and the like. Socialnetwork data can include, for example, data corresponding with auser-maintained electronic address book. Relationship data can becorrelated with, for example, location data to deduce social networkinformation, such as primary relationships (e.g., user-spouse,user-children and user-parent relationships) or other relationships(e.g., user-friends, user-co-worker, user-business associaterelationships). Relationship data also can be utilized to deduce, forexample, activities information.

Interaction data can be any data associated with user interaction of theelectronic device, whether active or passive. Examples of interactiondata include interpersonal communication data, media data, relationshipdata, transactional data and device interaction data, all of which aredescribed in further detail below. Table 1, below, is a non-exhaustivelist including examples of electronic data.

TABLE 1 Examples of Electronic Data Spatial Data Temporal DataInteraction Data Cell tower Time stamps Interpersonal GPRS Local clockcommunications GPS Network clock Media WiFi User input of timeRelationships Personal area network Transactions Network access pointsDevice interactions User input of location Geo-coordinates

Interaction data includes communication data between any RWEs that istransferred via the W4 COMN. For example, the communication data can bedata associated with an incoming or outgoing short message service (SMS)message, email message, voice call (e.g., a cell phone call, a voiceover IP call), or other type of interpersonal communication related toan RWE. Communication data can be correlated with, for example, temporaldata to deduce information regarding frequency of communications,including concentrated communication patterns, which can indicate useractivity information.

The interaction data can also include transactional data. Thetransactional data can be any data associated with commercialtransactions undertaken by or at the mobile electronic device, such asvendor information, financial institution information (e.g., bankinformation), financial account information (e.g., credit cardinformation), merchandise information and costs/prices information, andpurchase frequency information, to name a few. The transactional datacan be utilized, for example, to deduce activities and preferencesinformation. The transactional information can also be used to deducetypes of devices and/or services the user owns and/or in which the usercan have an interest.

The interaction data can also include device or other RWE interactiondata. Such data includes both data generated by interactions between auser and a RWE on the W4 COMN and interactions between the RWE and theW4 COMN. RWE interaction data can be any data relating to an RWE'sinteraction with the electronic device not included in any of the abovecategories, such as habitual patterns associated with use of anelectronic device data of other modules/applications, such as dataregarding which applications are used on an electronic device and howoften and when those applications are used. As described in furtherdetail below, device interaction data can be correlated with other datato deduce information regarding user activities and patterns associatedtherewith. Table 2, below, is a non-exhaustive list including examplesof interaction data.

TABLE 2 Examples of Interaction Data Type of Data Example(s)Interpersonal Text-based communications, such as SMS and communicatione-mail data Audio-based communications, such as voice calls, voicenotes, voice mail Media-based communications, such as multimediamessaging service (MMS) communications Unique identifiers associatedwith a communication, such as phone numbers, e-mail addresses, andnetwork addresses Media data Audio data, such as music data (artist,genre, track, album, etc.) Visual data, such as any text, images andvideo data, including Internet data, picture data, podcast data andplaylist data Network interaction data, such as click patterns andchannel viewing patterns Relationship User identifying information, suchas name, data age, gender, race, and social security number Socialnetwork data Transactional Vendors data Financial accounts, such ascredit cards and banks data Type of merchandise/services purchased Costof purchases Inventory of purchases Device Any data not captured abovedealing with user interaction interaction of the device, such aspatterns of data use of the device, applications utilized, and so forth

Location Based Media Delivery

Music and media of other types are often used by businesses to draw,retain, and entertain customers. For example, restaurants and retailers,among others, use ambient music to make their customer's dining orshopping experience more enjoyable. At nightclubs and lounges, music,videos, and images may be part of the entertainment supplied by suchestablishments. Businesses select media for play that they believe willappeal most to their customer base. Such selection may be achieved byselecting an available radio station, an available Muzak channel,creating custom mix CDs, or even a live DJ.

Such selections are, however, only an approximation or prediction ofmedia their customers might enjoy. Businesses may know the demographicsof their customer base, but they do not know who, that is to say, whatspecific individuals with what specific media tastes, are in a businesslocation at any time or over time. Moreover, even if a business has someidea of who is in a business location, the business may have littleconcept of what the individual preferences of each individual are.Ideally, a business may wish to vary the content of media played withina location, tailoring the media to the preferences of persons actuallypresent at the location.

For example, a restaurant may wish to vary the ambient music played inthe coffee house such that, when the customer group is predominantlyolder white collar workers, such as at breakfast and lunchtime, thebackground music is composed of favorite songs of such customers fromthe 1970's and 1980's. When, later at night, the crowd is under 30, thebusiness may prefer to play background music composed of current musicreleased by the favorite groups of the customers then onsite. Beyondtracking the taste's of the “average” customer, they can track thetaste's and media inventory of actual customers in real-time and adjustthe media being displayed on-site to suit the tastes of the totality, amajority or even just a VIP group or sub-group of customers depending onthe context and user's involved.

Such concepts are useful at home as well. For example, if a person ishaving a party at his or her house, he or she may wish to generate aplaylist aggregated from the favorite music of the guests. A family maywish to play a mix of music that reflects the tastes of the familymembers currently at home in an egalitarian or weighted fashiondepending on dad's mood. In every case mentioned above, the presence ofspecific individuals at a location cause the mix of media played at thelocation to respond to the preferences and personality of thoseindividuals actually present.

A business might also wish to influence the music played on individual'spersonal media players when such individuals are in, or near abusiness's location. For example, a business wish to allow potentialcustomers who come within close proximity to one of the business'slocations to experience the music played at the location on the user'spersonal media player, or within the location a specific channel orplaylist is personalized for that user's device to receive, displayand/or broadcast.

Such concepts may be further extended to the individual users. Forexample, when two friends are in close proximity to one another, theymay wish to have personal theme songs played on each other's portablemedia player or mobile phone. In general, in such cases, the presence ofan individual at or near a business location or another individualcauses the mix of media played on the individual's personal media playerto respond to the presence of the business or the other individual, anddepending on user preference, can interrupt and replace playing mediawith the new media and/or download the media into a new file or playlistfor later continued consumption by users.

The embodiments of the present invention discussed below illustrateapplication of the present invention within a W4 COMN. Nevertheless, itis understood that the invention can be implemented using any networkedsystem in which is capable of tracking the physical location of usersand media enabled electronic devices, and which is further capable ofcollecting and storing user profile data, as well as temporal, spatial,topical and social data relating to users, their proxies and theirdevices.

A W4 COMN can provide a platform that enables music played at a locationto vary with the mix of individuals present at the location on areal-time or near time basis. A W4 COMN can also provide a platform thatenables music played on an individual's portable media devices torespond to nearby business locations or other individuals. The W4 COMNis able to achieve such a result, in part, because the W4 COMN is awareof the physical location of persons and places, and is further aware ofthe media preferences of such persons and places and their relationshipto one another. The W4 COMN also has access to aggregated users dataprofiles and behavior patterns over-time against which to map or comparenew events in specific contexts to validate, modify or derive datavalues for consideration in the selection or presentation of media filesto users.

FIG. 7 illustrates one embodiment of the use of a W4 COMN for locationbased media delivery.

In the illustrated embodiment, a business or an individual 710 has abounded physical location, such as, for example, a building, a roomwithin a building, a house, an apartment, or an open-air location. Thelocation 710 has an entertainment system 712 which includes a sound andvideo reproduction system 714 for playing ambient music and/or video.The entertainment presentation system could be additionally configuredfor the presentation of media including videos, images, as well asspecial effects such as smoke and light shows. The geographical positionof the entertainment system 712 can be determined by GPS sensors withinthe device or by any other position determination technique, such astriangulation of cellular signals. Alternatively, the geographicalposition of the device may be known through a one-time measurement orposition determination. The entertainment system may additionallycontain sensors, such as temperature sensors, motion sensors, spatialorientation sensors or volume or noise level sensors.

Within the location 710 are two individuals 720 and 730. Each of theindividuals has a programmable cell phone 722 and 732 and a portablemedia player 724 and 734. The geographical position of the cell phones722 and 732 and the portable media players 724 and 734 can be determinedby GPS sensors within the devices or by any other position determinationtechnique, such as triangulation of cellular signals transmitted by thedevices. Any of the devices may contain additional environmentalsensors, such as temperature sensors, or biometric sensors, such asheart rate or blood pressure monitors. The individuals 720 and 730 arewithin sight of one another, and can communicate with one another, forexample, using their cell phones, or can come within speaking distanceof one another.

Outside the location 710, a third individual 740 is traveling past thelocation. The individual has a programmable cell phone 742 and aportable media player 744. The geographical position of the cell phones742 and the portable media player 744 can be determined by GPS sensorswithin the devices or by any other position determination technique,such as triangulation of cellular signals. Any of the devices maycontain additional environmental sensors, such as temperature, orbiometric sensors, such as heart rate or blood pressure monitors. Theindividual 740 is within sight of the location 710, and can enter thelocation if he or she so chooses.

The entertainment system 712 and the user devices 722, 724, 732, 734,742, and 744 are connected to a W4 COMN through network interfaces suchas cellular connections or wireless Internet connections. The devicesare defined to the W4 COMN and can be considered components of the W4COMN. The devices send and receive information from the W4 COMN. In oneembodiment, an attention engine within a W4 engine (not shown) tracksthe location of devices 712, 724, 732, 734, 742, and 744. The devices712, 724, 732, 734, 742, and 744 may be capable of sending geographicposition information to the attention engine, or, alternatively, theattention engine may determine the position of the devices using, forexample, triangulation of cellular signals. The W4 COMN can also monitorcommunications sent and received by user devices and track interactiondata for all the devices.

One or more data services 780 which are external to the W4 COMN areattached to the network and provide additional data regarding entitiesand objects known to the W4 COMN. Examples of such data services areInternet Service Providers, telecom carriers, personal publishing sitessuch as blogs, Flickr or YouTube, social networking sites, such asFacebook and media content and metadata sites.

FIG. 8 illustrates one embodiment of how the users and devices shown inFIG. 7 can be defined to a W4 COMN. Individuals 720, 730, and 740 arerepresented as user RWEs, 820, 830, and 840 respectively. Eachindividual's devices are represented as proxy RWEs 822, 824, 832, 834,842, and 844. The location 710 is represented as a business RWE 810 andthe entertainment system 712 is represented as a proxy RWE 812. The W4COMN collects spatial data, temporal data, RWE interaction data, IOcontent data (e.g., media data), and user data includingexplicitly-provided and deduced social and relationship data for all ofthe RWEs shown in FIG. 8. External data providers 780 are, in oneembodiment, defined to the W4 COMN as one or more active IOs 880.

FIG. 9 illustrates one embodiment of a data model showing how the RWEsshown in FIG. 8 can be related to entities and objects within a W4 COMN.Each user RWE for an individual 820, 830, 840 is associated with proxyRWEs representing user devices used by the individual. For example, user820 is associated with proxy RWEs 822 and 824 corresponding to theuser's cell phone and portable media device respectively. A user RWE canbe associated with one or more user data IOs which can contain, withoutlimitation, user demographic data, user interests, user media librariesand published content such as blogs, photos or videos, user's ecommercesites, user social networks, user associations, transactions, surfinghistory, search history, communication events and communications contentdata. The business RWE 810 is associated with a proxy RWE 812 for theentertainment system.

In the illustrated embodiment, the two user RWE 820 and 830 areassociated with one another, for example, through a social networkingsite and/or a texting and talking history to support daily interactionof sometimes frequent or lengthy duration. For example, the two usersmay be explicit friends within a social network, or the relationship canbe derived from the data sensed about co-presence, shared third-partycontacts combined with type, length and duration of interactiondemonstrated in their combined data streams. Additionally, oralternatively, the user profiles associated with each user RWE 820 and830 may list the other individual as a contact or friend. The user RWEsmay also be related to each other through other IOs, for example, an IOrelating to a topic (i.e. the individuals are interested in the samemusic.) In the illustrated embodiment, user RWEs 820 and 830 are alsocurrently associated with an IO relating to a topic 852 corresponding tothe fact that the individuals are both physically present in a locationassociated with business RWE 810.

Each user RWE 820 and 830 can be associated with IOs relating to topicsthat reflect the individual's musical interests. For example, if RWE 820and 830, are each interested in a specific artist, such interest isreflected as an association with an IO relating to a topic 826 and 836respectively. The IO relating to topics 826 and 836 are each associatedwith a group of media objects, 871, 872, 873, and 874, 875, 876respectively. The media objects are songs, videos or other mediarelating to their corresponding IO relating to topics 826 and 836.Playlists, media objects, and other IO may also be associated with proxyRWEs. For example, a playlist may be stored on, and associated with, amedia player used by an individual.

The business RWE 810 is associated with a proxy RWE 812 corresponding tothe entertainment system within the location. The proxy RWE for theentertainment system is associated with a playlist IO 854 which has twoselections from the group of media objects associated with the user RWEs820 and 830. The playlist IO 854 represents the playlist that theentertainment system associated with the proxy RWE 812 is currentlyplaying. In one embodiment, the playlist IO is tailored to containselections of interest to both user RWEs 820 and 830.

The business RWE 810 is further associated with a second playlist IO 862which references media objects 877, 878 and 879 which the businesswishes to present to individuals outside the business as representativeof music played within the location, or as a positive brand associationcampaign on behalf of the business RWE 810. The user RWE 840 iscurrently associated with an IO relating to a topic 860 corresponding tothe fact that the user is outside of, but within a short distance from,the business's location. An RWE 844 corresponding to a proxy device, forexample, a portable media player is associated with the user RWE 840 andthe playlist IO 862. The proxy device associated with the proxy RWE 844can use the playlist IO 862 to request delivery of media 877, 878, and879 associated with the playlist.

In one embodiment, within a W4 COMN, the relationships shown in FIG. 9are built and maintained by one or more correlation engines within a W4engine which services the W4 COMN at regular intervals to refresh userand transaction databases from the constantly accruing data streamcreated by users, devices, proxies and in the real world. The creationof such relationships may be automatic and part of the normal operationof the W4 COMN. Alternatively, certain relationships, such as creationof dynamic playlists, for example, IO 854, may be created on demand.

FIG. 10 illustrates one embodiment of a process 900 of how a W4 COMN canuse temporal, spatial, and social data to provide customized music for alocation containing one or more individuals or businesses known to a W4COMN.

Spatial data (i.e. the geographic location of devices) is periodicallydetermined 910 for entities such as users and businesses which, within aW4 COMN can be defined to the network as RWEs. The location of users andbusinesses are determined through devices, such as phones or mediaplayers, which, within a W4 COMN, may be associated with proxy RWEs. Inone embodiment, a location tracking module tracks the location ofdevices. The location of devices may be periodically transmitted by thedevices to the network, or alternatively, the location of devices may beperiodically derived, for example, by triangulation of a cellular signalor association with another known device or user, or by sensing fromother environmentally-present sensors including those present at thephysical locations of business RWEs. If a user or proxy is associatedwith a fixed location, for example, a business, the location may beknown and defined as a constant, for example, within metadata associatedwith a location RWE. Spatial data for such entities is thus constant andpart of the background upon which mobile users and devices are plottedover time.

For every entity, it is then determined if there are any other entitiesof interest 920 to the entity within a defined physical and/or logicalproximity to the entity. For example, it can be determined thatindividual users are within a physical location associated with abusiness, or outside of the location, but no more that 100 feet away. Inanother example, it can be determined that a user is within 100 feet ofanother user in real-space and is also in the same social network. Inanother example, it can be determined if a user is within 500 feet ofanother user with whom the user is carrying on a voice or text basedconversation through user proxy devices. In one embodiment, proximityrelationships are determined by a proximity correlation module within acorrelation engine within a W4 engine.

In one embodiment, definitions that outline when an entity is ofinterest to another entity, herein referred to as proximity definitions922, are stored within the W4 COMN. Proximity definitions 922 can bestored within a W4 COMN, for example, as IOs associated with an RWE. Anyentity which falls within one or more proximity definitions of aspecific entity are considered entities of interest to that specificentity. In one embodiment, lists of RWEs of interest 924 are storedwithin the W4 COMN as IO relating to a topics, such as, for example, 852of FIG. 9, which is owned by an RWE 810 corresponding to a location,wherein user RWEs of interest (i.e. users within a location) areassociated with an IO relating to a topic 852 associated with thelocation.

In general, proximity definitions 922 can contain criteria that relateto any type of temporal, spatial, social, or topical data. “Proximity”should be understood to refer to not only spatial proximity between twoor more entities, but also can also include proximity between twoentities in time, within social networks or social relations, withinnetwork or Internet activities or subscriptions, or interests. Thusproximity definition can contain criteria that are purely spatial, forexample, all persons within a bounded physical space (e.g. a bar orbrick and mortar retailer), but may also contain more subjectivecriteria (e.g. users who are interested in a specific genre of music, orwho are in a specific social network or members of a club.) Proximitydefinitions can also be used to describe groups or groupings of users ofinterest, such as a restaurant seeking to push media and sponsoredoffers to groups of known users larger than five, whereas a jewelerwould seek to push media to pairs of users whose profiles and/orassociated data support a primary relationship pair.

Proximity definitions can be dynamic and conditional (i.e. programmatic)and can respond to changes in one or more context or environmentalfactors. For example, if a user moves from one location to another, themedia files a user is associated with can vary based upon context; auser can be associated with one set of music at a bar, but another atthe office. Proximity definitions can, furthermore, respond toconditions unrelated to users, e.g. an outside news event of thereporting of a singer's death might immediately preference their songsfor next play if already in the playlist or for inclusion in theplaylist as timely if not already included, or an impending weatherstorm might influence the playlist to songs encouraging people to gethome and be safe.

If no entity of interest are identified, the process waits untilentities of interest are identified. When entities of interest 924 areidentified 940, a playlist 954 is assembled reflecting media associatedwith the entities of interest 924 and specific to their present context.For example, within a W4 COMN, if user RWEs are identified within alocation associated with a business having an entertainment system, aplaylist 954 may be assembled 950 containing songs that are favoritesongs associated with each user RWE, which are identified using an IOrelating to a topic for specific music genre that are associated witheach user RWE, or are on playlists associated with each user RWE orproxy RWEs. In one embodiment, playlists are built by a playlistgeneration module which can be within a correlation engine within a W4engine.

The playlists and favorite songs of all users present at the locationcan be compared, determining overlaps, similarities, and matching tracksor styles to create a composite playlist. The playlist can additionallybe filtered using filter criteria 952 to exclude media that falls withindefined categories. For example, a coffee house may choose to filter outheavy metal or rap music or music having offensive lyrics. The playlistcan additionally be sorted in a specific order, for example, by artist.The playlist can additionally specify that only specific tracks orsections of selected media are played, in effect creating a real-timecomposite stream by mixing and re-mixing portions of multiple mediafiles into one experience. As users come and go from the environment,their influence on the mix is added or removed and yet the real-timesystem responds smoothly yet quickly to change the mix according to anychanges in actual population of uses and their associated interests. Inone embodiment, filter criteria can be stored as an IO associated withan RWE.

Filter criteria can be dynamic and respond to changes detected by thenetwork and can include any alteration of the presentation of the mediafile in response to such changes. Such alterations of the presentationof the media file can include, without limitation, excluding specificmedia files, varying the size and brightness of images displayed, orvarying the volume of audio presented. For example, the streaming ofadult content may be stopped when a proxy for an underage user isdetected. If filter criteria are associated with a mobile end userdevice, a game content may be hidden when the user's supervisor isdetected nearby, or the volume of audio may change as location of thedevice changes.

Filter criteria can further specify the ordering of the playlist.Ordering criteria can be based on any property associated with selectedmedia files including real time network or co-presence/interaction datagenerated by present users. For example, media files relating to thefavorite songs of a majority of users may be ranked first.Alternatively, ordering may be based on the rank of songs on the currentbillboard. Filter criteria may also be derived from implicit or explicitpreferences of the location or business such as to achieve anadvertising or commercial goal through the broadcast and/or distributionof playlists and media. For example, a business location may want todistribute a live or exclusive recording of an artist to users to visittheir stores, but the system can sense that some users who come to thelocation already have that track on their portable music devices andthus the system can automatically offer them another new track fromtheir media library so as to still give that user a positive experienceat the business location.

In another example, if a user is identified as being outside a physicallocation associated with a business, a playlist may be assembled usingsongs preselected by the business to be played to passing users, and inone embodiment, the stationary media presentation device at the businesslocation mixes short clips of the favorite songs of one or more mobileusers as they pass-by the store. In a video example of that embodiment,a large display screen in a storefront window displays a compositestream or slideshow of pictures from the passing users' cell phones. Theplaylist may be built manually, or may be generated dynamically byincluding, for example, the last ten songs played within the businesslocation, or the favorite song of its top customers. In one embodiment,the playlist may further specify that only a portion of every song isplayed, for example, only the first ten seconds of every selection maybe played or that some media files are private and not available forpublic playlists or display.

In another example, if two users are found to be of interest to oneanother (e.g. there user or data profiles indicate a likely sharedinterest, they are already explicitly friends or are currently textingeach other), a playlist may be constructed for both individuals whichcontains favorite songs common to the users, or new music likely to beof interest to both users based upon their most played or highest ratedmedia files within their respective libraries as compared against thelibrary of new media available to the location for immediate broadcastor distribution. If the users are romantically involved, the playlistmay be filtered to include only romantic songs or if they are friends itcan be filtered to exclude overtly romantic songs, or it could use theirco-present data histories as correlated against media files to identifyand select a media files such as a song, photos or video that hasreceived sustained, recurring or otherwise specialized attention by bothusers, e.g. “they're playing our song.”.

In one embodiment, within a W4 COMN, a playlist may be instantiated as aplaylist IO owned by an RWE, such as for example, playlist IO 854 or 862of FIG. 9. The playlist IO can be transient or persistent, and can beshared by multiple users. The playlist is then used to download, stream,or otherwise deliver media 960 to a proxy RWE device associated with oneor more users and/or a business. In one embodiment, a media deliverymodule within a W4 engine delivers media to a requesting user device Inone embodiment, the process repeats periodically to determine if any newentities of interest can be identified or if any new W4 COMN data isavailable to influence proximity definitions or filtering criteria. Ifso, a new playlist is generated.

In one embodiment, the play of media on the playlist may be conditionedby sensor data that changes in real-time. For example, if a playlist iscreated for two individuals who are friends, the volume of music mayincrease as the two individuals move closer together, or it may besensitive to other environmental factors like what other users arepresent, are they in a library or how much power consumption is neededto power higher levels of output.

With reference to both FIG. 8 and FIG. 9, profile data, metadata, andIOs, including playlists and media objects, can be stored and retrievedfrom any suitable location within a W4 COMN or a network that stores andmaintains equivalent data. Such locations include, but are not limitedto, a central data store, a central server, and user devices, such asportable media players, which are capable of storing data. The datacould be stored in one application in one format or more likely acrossmultiple formats, platforms and gateways for data access andverification.

FIG. 11 illustrates one embodiment of a location based media deliveryengine 1000 that is capable of providing location-based media deliverywithin a network, for example, a W4 COMN. The engine includes a locationtracking module 1100 that tracks the spatial location of users,businesses, and other physical entities and devices associated with suchentities including their relative proximity and repetitive or otherwiseinteresting spatial patterns over time. The location of devices may beperiodically transmitted by the user devices to the location trackingmodule 1100, or alternatively, the location of the devices may beperiodically determined by the location tracking module, for example, bytriangulation of a cellular signal or association with a device or userof known location. In one embodiment, the location based media deliveryengine 1000 may be a component of a W4 engine 502 of a W4 COMN.

The location based media delivery engine 1000 further includes aproximity correlation module 1200 that determines if there are anyusers, businesses, and other entities that are within a definedproximity to one another. In one embodiment, proximity definitions thatoutline spatial and other criteria that determine when users,businesses, and other entities are of interest to one another are storedon a computer readable medium 1220. In one embodiment, the resultinglists of users, businesses, and other entities that are of interest toanother user, businesses, or other entity are stored on a computerreadable medium 1240. In one embodiment, the proximity correlationmodule 1200 can be implemented as one component of correlation engine506 within a W4 engine 502 of a W4 COMN.

The location based media delivery engine 1000 further includes aplaylist generation module 1300 that generates playlists 1340 for users,businesses, and other entities for which a list of entities of interesthave been found. Playlist generation module 1300 can use data related tothe entities of interest, including without limitation, profile data,playlists, favorite songs or videos, and favorite media genre, socialnetwork data, and other topical data for entities of interest togenerate one or more playlists or composite streams or files, e.g.slideshow or highlight reel. Such data can be compared, determiningoverlaps, similarities, and matching tracks or styles to create acomposite playlist. The playlist generation module 1300 can additionallyfilter and/or order the playlist using filter criteria 1320 stored on acomputer readable medium to exclude or include media that falls withindefined categories, genres, artists or sources of origin. In oneembodiment, the playlist generation module 1300 playlists are built by aplaylist generation module can be implemented as one component ofcorrelation engine 506 within a W4 engine 502 of a W4 COMN.

The location based media delivery engine 1000 further includes a mediadelivery module 1400 that delivers media contained in playlistsgenerated for users, businesses, and other entities by the playlistgeneration module 1300. In one embodiment, such media is delivered tomedia presentation devices associated with the entities for which theplaylists were generated. In one embodiment, the delivery module 1400can be implemented as one component of a W4 engine 502 of a W4 COMN.

In one embodiment, the media delivery module is aware of changes inreal-time sensor data, for example, the changes in the physical locationof an entity, and adjusts play of media on the playlist. For example, ifa playlist is created for two individuals who are friends, the volume ofmusic may increase as the two individuals move closer together and/oroverlap previously playing media as a form of alert that the friendassociated with that song or video is nearby.

Additional Examples of Location Based Media Delivery

The disclosure will now discuss additional examples of the aboveprinciples. The examples given below are intended to be illustrative,and not limiting.

In one example of users influencing media at a location, a Starbucks hasa W4 enabled entertainment system at its location feeding the ambientmusic and video display systems. As a number of customers enter andleave the location with W4 enabled devices, the media server at thelocation plays music the current set of clients will likely preferaccompanied by personalized video displays of user-generated orassociated content. As the type of customer in the store changes, thetype of media played over the ambient system changes—when the highschool kids are in the store it will play music which appeals to thatgroup. When the wave of soccer moms comes in, it plays a different set,and plays yet another set on the weekend when there is a more even mixof customers.

In one embodiment, the W4 COMN has historical data on the location'scustomers and the system may favor the preferences of regular repeatcustomers, big spenders or those who spend a long time at the store.Such filtering criteria can be provided by the business owner, by thenetwork and or by the owner of the media presentation devices and/ortheir agents, e.g. sponsored ad agencies

In another example of users influencing media at a location, a DJ at aclub is automatically delivered a list of the favorite music of thepeople currently in the club, e.g. it will appear on the DJ's MixingScreen. The DJ can then select the music to play based from the list, ormay select other tracks based on his personal judgment. The DJ can thencreate a playlist and play it. Alternatively, instead of a set oftracks, the system can instead create a base beat track and overlaysamples of the tracks that the attendees may like, thus creating acompletely new and unique track or composite stream, part of which willappeal to someone in the room at any one time.

In another example of users influencing media at a location, a user whohas a W4 enabled entertainment system is throwing a party, but has noidea of the musical preferences of the guests. The user entersinstructions to the W4 enabled entertainment system to play music whichthe guests will probably like, based on data gleaned from theirprofiles, media library and media playlists. as indicated by their localW4 enabled devices. Before guests arrive, the host sets the stereo toplay. Initially, the entertainment system only plays the music the hostlikes.

As guests arrive, their presence is detected via their local W4 devices,their playlists and preferences of each guest are determined and add newtracks are added to the playlist or mixed into the re-mix. The host canalso set filters ahead of time in order to flavor the playlist to thehost's liking and the event, e.g. avoiding media with explicit lyrics orthemes when children are at an event. For example, a majority of theguests may like death-metal, but the host may not wish to have it playedat a sedate dinner party, and can specify categories of music to play ornot play as default preferences, derived preferences based upon W4 dataconcerning the event and a model of event types to match every event, orexplicitly entered preferences such as “no death metal.”. As above, theentertainment system can be set to auto-play, or simply create a list ofpreferred tracks to play and allow the host modify in the finalselection of which tracks to play.

In another example, imagine a scene in a film where a couple's eyes meetacross a room, and romantic music starts playing in the background, andincreases in volume as they move closer to each other. Such a scenecould be enabled in real life using location based media delivery. Forexample, two single users each have their own W4 enabled device and arein the same venue, listening to their own music via headphones. Alocation based media delivery server detects that the two individualsare moving towards each other, it then mines both users playlists for atrack that they have both tagged as “romantic” or “love”.

As they move towards each other, the track begins to play simultaneouslyat a low volume through their respective headphones. As they movecloser, the volume increases. When get close enough to touch, the musicreaches a crescendo of volume and stabilizes. The server could avoidunintentionally matching incompatible persons by only providing suchfunctionality for persons registered with an online dating service andare nominally compatible (e.g. have at least one interest in common andare close in age.)

In an example of a location influencing music heard by a user, a churchdefines a W4 location activated playlist containing recordings of musicperformed in the church during services. When a person with a W4 enableddevice travels past the church on the same street, the playlist or atrack from the playlist is sent to the person's W4 enabled device.Alternatively the triggering device can be social proximity such thatchurch members devices play a track from their Church's playlist whenthey come into proximity of each other such that the church's music ormedia is presented to each user in the cluster of users in proximity,each the same media or in other embodiments, each member may be playedtheir favorite or best-match song from the church's playlist.

Distributing Media Related to a Location

As discussed above, businesses having brick and mortar locations thatservice customers often use ambient music and other media at suchlocations to draw, retain, and entertain customers. Music has the powerto create powerful emotional connections between places and people. If aperson hears music they enjoy at a business location, the person may,consciously or subconsciously draw a connection between the music, theway it makes them feel, and a business where they last heard (or firstheard) the song.

Such connections, however, may not last. Over time, a person may forgetwhere they first or last experienced a song or a video. If the song orvideo may be short-lived in popularity, a person may never hear the songagain through publically available channels. Stress and otherdistractions may lead a person to partially or wholly ignore a song orvideo the first time they see or hear it, or they may forget who themusical artist is or what the title of the song is.

Oftentimes, persons frequenting a business location would, for a varietyof reasons, like to re-experience media they previously experienced atthe business location in one or more times in their past. Oftentimes, abusiness would like to associate themselves with popular artists, songsor videos in the minds of their customers. This creates a marketingopportunity for businesses. By distributing media to customers orprospective customers of a specific business location, the business canenhance their connection with their customer base and their customersbrand awareness and loyalty. Moreover, such distribution creates myriadmarketing opportunities for the business by, for example, attaching adsto such media or offering free media as an incentive to purchases goodsor services from the business, or being the exclusive source forspecific media, e.g. live sets at the shop.

For example, suppose a customer spends a half hour browsing in aCharlotte Russe (a women's clothing store) location. The retailerchooses to play ambient music using an in-store entertainment system. Anumber of music tracks are played as ambient music during the period thecustomer is in the store. The retailer may wish to give away these musictracks to its customers for advertising or retention purposes.

If the customer has a network connected media player, as each trackfinishes playing, the track could be downloaded to the customer's mediaplayer creating a new playlist on the device. As the customer browsesthe store, more tracks play and as each track finishes playing they areadded to new play list. If the customer were to look at the media playerwhile they are in the store, they would notice the new play list,possibly labeled “Music brought to you by Charlotte Russe” and eachtrack could be labeled “XXX brought to you by Charlotte Russe” where XXXcould be the name of a featured item of merchandise. Other forms ofadvertising could be attached to the track as well, for example, aprefix containing an audio advertisement, as well as contentrestrictions, such as a maximum number of replays of a track.

Such concepts may be further extended by filtering media downloaded tothe customer's media player. For example, the track may only bedownloaded to the customer's media player if it the first time thecustomer has heard the track since if the user has heard this track orversion before, the emotional connection could be lessened.Alternatively, the track may only be downloaded if the customer has apositive impression of the track or the performing artist, any emotionalconnection could be negated if the user has had a negative experiencewith this track or artist.

In one embodiment, media is only downloaded to users participating in acommercial music service. Participation in a commercial music servicemay constitute permission for media and associated advertisements andother content restrictions and obligations (if any) to be automaticallydownloaded to a user's proxy device. Participation in a commercial musicservice can be free or on a paid subscription basis.

The embodiments of the present invention discussed below illustrateapplication of the present invention within a W4 COMN. Nevertheless, itis understood that the invention can be implemented using any networkedsystem in which is capable of tracking the physical location of usersand media enabled electronic devices, and which is further capable ofcollecting and storing user profile data, as well as temporal, spatial,topical and social data relating to users and their devices.

A W4 COMN can provide a platform that enables music or other mediapresented at a location to be automatically downloaded to customer'sportable network-connected devices. A W4 COMN can also provide aplatform to personalize music media presented at a location which isdownloaded to customer's portable network-connected devices. The W4 COMNis able to achieve such a result, in part, because the W4 COMN is awareof the physical location of persons and places, and is further aware ofthe media preferences of such persons and places and their relationshipto one another. Alternatively, users can also tag or mark an object,place or spatially bounded space in the real world as a location topresent media or downloadable media

FIG. 12 illustrates one embodiment of the use of a W4 COMN fordistributing media related to a location .

In the illustrated embodiment, a business 1710 has a bounded physicallocation, such as, for example, a building, a room within a building, oran open-air location. The location 1710 has an entertainment system 1712which includes a sound reproduction system 1714 for playing ambientmusic and a local storage device for storing media 1718. The businesslocation could be a brick and mortar location of a retailer, oralternatively could be any other type of location of a business whichhosts customers, such as, for example, a nightclub.

The entertainment presentation system could be additionally configuredfor the presentation of media including videos, images, as well asspecial effects such as smoke and light shows. The geographical positionof the entertainment system 1712 can be determined by GPS sensors withinthe device or by any other position determination technique, such astriangulation of cellular signals. Alternatively, the geographicalposition of the device may be known through a one-time measurement orposition determination.

The entertainment system 1712 plays media, such as songs or videos,during business hours. The media program could be a preprogrammed mediaprogram that presents a fixed program of music tracks or videos, couldbe a dynamically adjusted location based media as described above withrespect to FIG. 7-11, or could be a program whose content is determinedin any other way, for example, by a DJ, or supplied by a third partymusic service provider 1790 such as Muzak.

Within the location 1710 are two individuals 1720 and 1730 who may beexisting customers of the business or prospective customers. Both of theindividuals have a programmable cell phone 1722 and 1732 and a portablemedia player 1724 and 1734. The portable media players 1724 and 1734,and the cell phones 1722 and 1732 are capable of hosting one or moreplaylists and are capable of downloading, storing, and presenting mediareceived over a network such as songs, videos, images or ringtones.

The geographical position of the cell phones 1722 and 1732 and theportable media players 1724 and 1734 can be determined by GPS sensorswithin the devices or by any other position determination technique,such as triangulation of cellular signals transmitted by the devices.Any of the devices may contain additional environmental sensors, such astemperature sensors, or biometric sensors, such as heart rate or bloodpressure monitors.

The entertainment system 1712 and the user devices 1722, 1724, 1732,1734 are connected to a W4 COMN through network interfaces such ascellular connections or wireless Internet connections. The devices aredefined to the W4 COMN and can be considered components of the W4 COMN.The devices send and receive information from the W4 COMN.

In one embodiment, an attention engine within a W4 engine (not shown)tracks the location of devices 1712, 1724, 1732, 1734 The devices 1712,1724, 1732, 1734, 1742, and 1744 may be capable of sending geographicposition information to the attention engine, or, alternatively, theattention engine may determine the position of the devices using, forexample, triangulation of cellular signals. The W4 COMN can also monitorcommunications sent and received by user devices and track interactiondata for all the devices.

In one embodiment, media presented by the entertainment system 1712 istracked by the W4 COMN on a real-time basis, regardless of whether themedia itself originates locally on the device 1716, from a third partyprovider 1790 such as, for example, Muzac, or through a service providedby the W4 COMN, such as, for example, location based media delivery asdescribed above. In one embodiment, the third party music provider isknown to the W4 COMN and can provide information to the W4 COMNregarding broadcast content.

One or more data services 1780 which are external to the W4 COMN areattached to the network and provide additional data regarding entitiesand objects known to the W4 COMN. Examples of such data services aresocial networking sites, such as Facebook and media metadata sites. Suchdata can be used, for example, to filter media objects before delivery,as will be described in further detail below.

FIG. 13 illustrates one embodiment of how the users and devices shown inFIG. 12 can be defined to a W4 COMN.

Individuals 1720 and 1730 are represented as user RWEs, 1820 and 1830respectively. Each individual's devices are represented as proxy RWEs1822, 1824, 1832 and 1834. The location 1710 is represented as abusiness/user RWE 1810 and the entertainment system 1712 is representedas a proxy RWE 1812. The W4 COMN collects spatial data, temporal data,RWE interaction data, IO content data (e.g., media data), and user dataincluding explicitly-provided and deduced social and relationship datafor all of the RWEs shown in FIG. 13. External data and music providers1780 and 1790 are, in one embodiment, defined to the W4 COMN as one ormore active IOs 1880 and 1890 respectively.

FIG. 14 illustrates one embodiment of a data model showing how the RWEsshown in FIG. 13 can be related to entities and objects within a W4COMN.

Each user RWE for an individual 1820, 1830 is associated with proxy RWEs1822, 1824, 1832 and 1834 representing user devices used by theindividual. For example, user 1820 is associated with proxy RWEs 1822and 1824 corresponding to the user's cell phone and portable mediadevice respectively. A user RWE can be associated with one or more userdata IOs 1821 and 1831 which can contain, without limitation, userprofile data, user demographic data, user interests, user socialnetworks, user associations, transactions, surfing history, searchhistory, communication events and communications content data.

The user proxy devices 1824 and 1834 are each associated with a playlist1825 and 1835 respectively. Each playlist is associated with a media IO1873 and 1874 respectively. The user proxy devices could be associatedwith multiple playlists, and each playlist could contain multiple mediaobjects. The media objects 1873 and 1874 may be stored locally on theuser proxy devices, or may be stored in other locations available to thenetwork.

The business user RWE 1810 is associated with a proxy RWE 1812 for thebusinesses entertainment system. The proxy RWE 1812 is associated with aplaylist 1854 containing media the business is currently presenting onthe entertainment system. The playlist is associated with two mediaobjects 1873 and 1874. The playlist 1854 and the media objects 1873 and1874 may be supplied by a music provider 1890. Alternatively, theplaylist 1854 can be generated manually or can be generated by any otherautomated process capable of generating a playlist. The media objects1873 and 1874 may be stored locally on the storage devices attached tothe entertainment system, or may be stored in other locations availableto the network.

The individual RWE 1820 is associated with an IO for a commercial musicservice 1850. Association with the commercial music service, in oneembodiment, constitutes permission for media objects to be downloaded tothe individual's proxy devices. The business user 1810 is alsoassociated with the commercial music service IO 1850, indicating thatmedia objects on business's playlist 1854 are to be downloaded to proxydevices of participating user RWE 1820s (subject to filter criteria).User RWE 1830 is not participating in the commercial music service, andhence has no relation to the commercial music service IO 1850 and, inone embodiment, will not receive downloads of media objects from theplaylists of participating businesses such as, for example, RWE 1810.

In the illustrated embodiment, the two user RWE 1820 and 1830 areassociated with one another 1880, for example, through a socialnetworking site. For example, the two users may be friends within asocial network. Additionally, or alternatively, the user profilesassociated with each user RWE 820 and 830 may list the other individualas a contact or friend. The user RWEs may also be related to each otherthrough other IOs, for example, an IO relating to a topic (i.e. theindividuals are interested in the same music.)

While user 1830 is not participating in the commercial music service,and has no relation to the commercial music service IO 850, datarelating to the user 1830 can be relevant for distributing media relatedto a location. Media downloads to a participating user RWE 1820 may besubject to filter conditions. For example, a filter condition can becreated to the effect that the participating user will not receivedownloads of a music track unless it is on a friend's playlist, or thatthe participating user will not receive downloads of tracks unfavorablyreviewed by a friend.

The business playlist 1854 or the business user 1810 (or both) may beassociated with content restrictions, which, in one embodiment, may becontained in one or more content restriction IOs 1855. Contentrestrictions can place any condition on a media object downloaded to auser proxy device. One type of content restriction could requirementthat media objects are downloaded with an attached advertisement.Another type of content restriction could be a use restriction, such aslimiting the media object to a fixed number of replays.

In one embodiment, within a W4 COMN, the relationships shown in FIG. 14are built and maintained by one or more correlation engines within a W4engine which services the W4 COMN. The creation of such relationshipsmay be automatic and part of the normal operation of the W4 COMN.Alternatively, certain relationships, such as creation of dynamicplaylists, for example, IO 854, may be created on demand.

FIG. 15 illustrates one embodiment of a process 2000 of how a network,for example, a W4 COMN, can use temporal, spatial, and social data todistribute media related to a location to users known to the network.

Spatial data (i.e. the geographic location of devices) is periodicallydetermined 2100 for entities such as users and businesses which, withina W4 COMN, can be defined to the network as RWEs. The location of usersand businesses are determined through devices, such as phones or mediaplayers, which, within a W4 COMN, may be associated with proxy RWEs. Thelocation of devices may be periodically transmitted by the devices tothe network, or alternatively, the location of devices may beperiodically derived, for example, by triangulation of a cellular signalor association with another known device or user. If a user or proxy isassociated with a fixed location, for example, a business, the locationmay be known and defined as a constant, for example, within metadataassociated with a location RWE. Spatial data for such entities is thusconstant.

For every business location that offers location based mediadistribution, it is then determined if there are any users eligible formedia downloads 2200 in or near the business location. In oneembodiment, only users within the physical boundaries of the businesslocation during normal business hours can be users eligible for mediadownloads. In one embodiment, only users who are carrying a proxy devicecapable of accepting media downloads at the time they enter the locationcan be users eligible for media downloads.

In one embodiment, only users matching a targeting profile can be userseligible for media downloads. A targeting profile can be maintained by,or on behalf, of a national brand or other advertiser. The targetingprofile can contain social, spatial, temporal and social criteria. Forexample, a targeting profile could be created for a brand of blue jeansand target persons in California that are shopping after 6:00 PM and whohave at least one friend that has purchased the same brand of bluejeans.

If no users are eligible 2300 for media downloads are identified, theprocess waits until such users are identified. If at least one usereligible for media downloads 2220 is identified 2300, the current mediaobject being presented at the business location where the users iscurrently located is identified 2400. In one embodiment, the processpolls the media presentation device present at the business location todetermine the current media object that is being presented. In oneembodiment, the playlist of the media presentation device present at thebusiness location is stored on the network as an IO.

Filter criteria 2520 are then applied to the identified media object todetermine if there is any reason why the media object should not bedownloaded to the eligible users' proxy devices. In one embodiment, theprocess checks the eligible users' “already heard” list of tracks todetermine if the user has experienced the media before. If theexperienced the media before, the process can do additional data miningto determine if the user has a positive or negative relationship withthe media, by, for example, mining tags the user has attached to thetrack, or reviews and ratings that the user has given the track. If theprocess determines that the user would enjoy the media object based onsuch mining, the media object can be delivered to the eligible use.

In one embodiment, filter criteria can contain any spatial, temporal,social, or topical criteria that define media objects that should not bedownloaded to an eligible users devices. For example, music of a genrewhich is not favored by the eligible user can filtered out (i.e. notdownloaded to the end user's device.) In another example, music whichwas unfavorably reviewed by an eligible user's friends is filtered out.In another example,

Content restrictions 2620 are then applied 2600 to identified mediaobjects that have not been excluded by filter criteria before they aredownloaded to eligible users' proxy devices. Content restrictions can beany kind of rules that condition the use of downloaded media. Such rulesmay limit the use of the media objects. For example, a media object mayconditioned such that the user can only listen for to the media objectfor 3 days, can only listen to the object 20 times, or the user can onlygive the track to three friends.

Such rules may specify the media object is sampled or placed in analternative form. For example, instead of sending a full track, theprocess could send a snippet or sample of the track and encourage theuser to visit a website to receive the full track and possibly drive theuser to shop the retailer online. A link or code could be built into themetadata of the track, which can possibly drive the user back to theretailer's site to redeem an online coupon for a discount on purchases.At that point the retailer can collect more information in a customerprofile in order to give away more tracks or possibly the entire album.In another example, the process can deliver a sample of a track to aneligible user as a ringtone.

Such rules may also place positive requirements or obligations on theuse of media objects. For example, an audio ad could be prefixed to amedia object such that the user must hear or view the ad before thedownloaded media object can be presented on the users media player. Inanother example, a media object could be conditioned such that the usermust share the object with three friends.

A location specific playlist 2720 is then created or updated 2700 on theeligible user's proxy device and the media object, with contentrestrictions if applicable, is downloaded to the user's proxy device. Inone embodiment, the playlist is updated and the media object downloadedimmediately. In another embodiment, the process waits until thepresentation of the media object has concluded. In another embodiment,instead of giving away the tracks while the user is browsing, theprocess accumulates the tracks while the user browses and only updatesthe play list and downloads the media objects if users purchasesomething over a specific value.

FIG. 16 illustrates one embodiment of a location related media deliveryengine 3000 that is capable of providing delivering media related to alocation to eligible users within a network, for example, a W4 COMN. Inone embodiment, the location related media delivery engine 3000 may be acomponent of a W4 engine 502 of a W4 COMN.

The engine includes a location tracking module 3100 that tracks thespatial location of users, businesses, and other physical entities anddevices associated with such entities including their relative proximityand repetitive, or otherwise interesting, spatial patterns over time.The location of devices may be periodically transmitted by the userdevices to the location tracking module 3100, or alternatively, thelocation of the devices may be periodically determined by the locationtracking module, for example, by triangulation of a cellular signal orassociation with a device or user or transaction or sensing event ofknown location.

The location related media delivery engine 3000 further includes aneligible user identification module 3200 that determines if there areany users eligible for media downloads in or near business locationsoffering location related media delivery. In one embodiment, only userswithin the physical boundaries of such business locations during normalbusiness hours can be users eligible for media downloads. In oneembodiment, only users who are carrying a proxy device capable ofaccepting media downloads at the time they enter the location can beusers eligible for media downloads.

In one embodiment, only users subscribing 3220 to a commercial musicservice can be users eligible for media downloads. Users may enroll inthe commercial music service through any means of communication with theprovider of the commercial music service. For example, the provider ofthe commercial music service may allow users to enroll using a networkconnected proxy device, such as a media player. In one embodiment, thecommercial music service may be provided at no cost to users or may be apaid subscription service. In one embodiment, when a user enters abusiness location that offers location based media distribution, amessage or email may be automatically sent to the end user encouragingthe user to enroll in the service.

The location related media delivery engine 3000 further includes alocation related media identification module 3400 that identifiescurrent media objects being presented to eligible users at businesslocations offering location related media delivery. In one embodiment,location related media identification module 3400 polls the mediapresentation device present at the business location to determine thecurrent media object that is being presented. In one embodiment, theplaylist of the media presentation device present at the businesslocation is available to the network and is accessed by the locationrelated media identification module 3400.

The location related media delivery engine 3000 further includes a mediafilter module 3500 that applies filter criteria 3520 to media objectsidentified by the location related media identification module 3400 todetermine if there is any reason why such media object should not bedownloaded to the eligible users' proxy devices. In one embodiment, theeligible media filter module 3500 checks the eligible users' 3240“already heard” list of tracks to determine if users have experiencedthe media before. If the users have experienced the media before, themodule can do additional data mining to determine if the user has apositive or negative relationship with the media, by, for example,mining tags the user has attached to the track, or reviews and ratingsthat the user has given the track. If the module determines that theuser would enjoy the media object based on such mining, the media objectcan be delivered to the eligible users.

In one embodiment, filter criteria can contain any spatial, temporal,social, or topical criteria that define media objects that should not bedownloaded to an eligible users devices. For example, music of a genrewhich is not favored by the eligible user is filtered out and notdownloaded to the end user's device. In another example, music which wasunfavorably reviewed by an eligible user's friends is filtered out. Inanother example.

The location related media delivery engine 3000 further includes acontent restriction module 3600 that applies content restrictions 3620to filtered media objects before they are downloaded to eligible users'proxy devices. Content restrictions can be any kind of rules thatcondition the use of downloaded media. Such rules may limit the use ofthe media objects. For example, a media object may conditioned such thatthe user can only listen for to the media object for 3 days, can onlylisten to the object 20 times, or the user can only give the track tothree friends

Such rules may specify the media object is sampled or placed in analternative form. For example, instead of sending a full track, theprocess could send a snippet or sample of the track and encourage theuser to visit a website to receive the full track and possibly drive theuser to shop the retailer online. A link or code could be built into themetadata of the track, which could possibly drive the user back to theretailer's site to redeem an online coupon for a discount on purchases.At that point the retailer can collect more information in a customerprofile in order to give away more tracks or possibly the entire album.In another example, the process can deliver a sample of a track to aneligible user as a ringtone.

Such rules may also place positive requirements or obligations on theuse of media objects. For example, an audio ad could be prefixed to amedia object such that the user must hear or view the ad before thedownloaded media object can be presented on the users media player. Inanother example, a media object could be conditioned such that the usermust share the object with three friends.

The location related media delivery engine 3000 further includes aplaylist update module 3700 that creates or updates location specificplaylists 3720 on user proxy devices. In one embodiment, the playlistupdate module 3700 updates the playlists 3720 immediately. In anotherembodiment, playlist update module 3700 waits until the presentation ofthe media object has concluded before updating the playlists 3720. Inanother embodiment, instead of giving away the tracks while the user isbrowsing, the playlist update module 3700 accumulates the tracks whilethe user browses and only updates the playlist if users purchasesomething over a specific value.

The location related media delivery engine 3000 further includes a mediadelivery module 3800 that delivers media objects, possibly includingcontent restrictions, to user proxy devices. In one embodiment, themedia delivery module 3800 delivers media objects immediately. Inanother embodiment, the media delivery module 3800 waits until thepresentation of the media object has concluded delivering the mediaobjects. In another embodiment, instead of giving away the media objectsaway while the user is browsing, the media delivery module 3800accumulates the tracks while the user browses and only downloads themedia objects to the user's proxy device if users purchase somethingover a specific value.

In one embodiment, as a track or other media object is being transmittedto a user proxy device, the display on the device could display “You'reGetting A Free Track From Retailer X”. The track can be labeled with theArtist/Track information as usual, additionally sponsorship informationis attached to the track. If the user were to look at the device whilethey are in the store, they would notice the new play list, possiblylabeled “Music brought to you by Retailer X” and each track could belabeled “[Merchandise Item] brought to you by Retailer X”. If a userenters multiple locations sponsoring location related media delivery,the users playlists can fill up with media from the various stores, alllabeled by the store the media was experienced in.

Media objects may be delivered using any delivery method supported byuser proxy devices. For example, media objects may be delivered asactual media files, or as HTTP links to streaming media services. Oncethe media object has been delivered to an eligible user, it will residein the users typical storage location for replay at will, unless contentrestrictions have been applied to the media object.

Those skilled in the art will recognize that the methods and systems ofthe present disclosure may be implemented in many manners and as suchare not to be limited by the foregoing exemplary embodiments andexamples. In other words, functional elements being performed by singleor multiple components, in various combinations of hardware and softwareor firmware, and individual functions, may be distributed among softwareapplications at either the client level or server level or both. In thisregard, any number of the features of the different embodimentsdescribed herein may be combined into single or multiple embodiments,and alternate embodiments having fewer than, or more than, all of thefeatures described herein are possible. Functionality may also be, inwhole or in part, distributed among multiple components, in manners nowknown or to become known. Thus, myriad software/hardware/firmwarecombinations are possible in achieving the functions, features,interfaces and preferences described herein. Moreover, the scope of thepresent disclosure covers conventionally known manners for carrying outthe described features and functions and interfaces, as well as thosevariations and modifications that may be made to the hardware orsoftware or firmware components described herein as would be understoodby those skilled in the art now and hereafter.

Furthermore, the embodiments of methods presented and described asflowcharts in this disclosure are provided by way of example in order toprovide a more complete understanding of the technology. The disclosedmethods are not limited to the operations and logical flow presentedherein. Alternative embodiments are contemplated in which the order ofthe various operations is altered and in which sub-operations describedas being part of a larger operation are performed independently.

While various embodiments have been described for purposes of thisdisclosure, such embodiments should not be deemed to limit the teachingof this disclosure to those embodiments. Various changes andmodifications may be made to the elements and operations described aboveto obtain a result that remains within the scope of the systems andprocesses described in this disclosure.

1. A method comprising: receiving, by a processor, a physical locationof a media presentation device over a network; identifying, by theprocessor via the network, a plurality of users located in suchproximity to the media presentation device that the plurality of userscan perceive media that is presented on the media presentation device;determining, by the processor via the network, a plurality of mediafiles liked by at least a subset of the plurality of users;accumulating, by the processor, a playlist comprising at least part ofeach of the plurality of media files; transmitting, by the processor,the playlist to the media presentation device.
 2. The method of claim 1comprising the additional steps of: determining, by the processor, afilter criterion associated with the media presentation device; editing,by the processor, the playlist based on the filter criterion.
 3. Themethod of claim 2, wherein transmitting the playlist to the mediapresentation device further comprises: transmitting, by the processor,the edited playlist to the media presentation device.
 4. The method ofclaim 2, wherein the filter criterion specifies a media type to beremoved from the playlist.
 5. The method of claim 2, wherein the filtercriterion specifies identities of a subset of the plurality of mediafiles to be removed from the playlist.
 6. The method of claim 2, furthercomprising: detecting, by the processor, arrivals or departures of usersat the physical location; and altering, by the processor, the filtercriterion associated with the media presentation device based on thearrivals and departures at the physical location.
 7. The method of claim2, wherein the filter criterion specifies ordering of the plurality ofmedia files in the playlist.
 8. The method of claim 7, furthercomprising: determining, by the processor, for each of the plurality ofmedia files included in the playlist, a number of the plurality of usersthat like each media file; ranking, by the processor, the plurality ofmedia files based on the number of end users that like each media filesuch that a media file liked by a majority of the plurality of users isranked first; arranging, by the processor, the plurality of media filesin the playlist based on the rank of each of the plurality of mediafiles.
 9. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of usersis associated with a respective user device and respective locations ofthe users are determined by the processor based on information obtainedfrom respective user devices.
 10. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising: determining, by the processor, arrival of an additional userat the physical location such that the additional user can perceivemedia presented on the media presentation device; identifying, by theprocessor via the network, at least one additional media file liked bythe additional user; editing, by the processor, the playlist viainclusion of at least part of the additional media file; andtransmitting, by the processor, the edited playlist to the mediapresentation device.
 11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:determining, by the processor, departure of one of the plurality ofusers from the physical location such that the user can no longerperceive media presented on the media presentation device; identifying,by the processor via the network, at least one of the plurality of mediafiles that is liked by the user; editing, by the processor, the playlistvia removal of the at least one media file; and transmitting, by theprocessor, the edited playlist to the media presentation device.
 12. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the playlist comprises entireties of theplurality of media files.
 13. A non-transitory computer-readable storagemedium having stored thereon, instructions which when executed by aprocessor, cause the processor to: receive a physical location of amedia presentation device over a network; identify, via the network, aplurality of users located in such proximity to the media presentationdevice that the plurality of users can perceive media that is presentedon the media presentation device; determine, via the network, aplurality of media files liked by at least a subset of the plurality ofusers; accumulate, by the processor, a playlist comprising at least partof each of the plurality of media files; transmit, by the processor, theplaylist to the media presentation device.
 14. The medium of claim 13,further comprising instructions that cause the processor to, determine afilter criterion associated with the media presentation device; edit theplaylist based on the filter criterion.
 15. The medium of claim 13,further comprising instructions that cause the processor to: detectarrivals or departures of users at the physical location; and change thefilter criterion associated with the media presentation device based onthe arrivals and departures.
 16. A computing device comprising: aprocessor; a storage medium for tangibly storing thereon program logicfor execution by the processor, the program logic comprising: locationtracking logic, executed by the processor, for receiving, over anetwork, a physical location of a media presentation device andrespective physical locations of a plurality of users, such that each ofplurality of users are located in such proximity to the mediapresentation device that the plurality of users can perceive media thatis presented on the media presentation device; media identificationlogic, executed by the processor, for identifying a plurality of mediafiles that are liked by at least a subset of the plurality of users;playlist generation logic, executed by the processor, for generating aplaylist comprising at least part of each of the plurality of mediafiles; media delivery logic, executed by the processor, fortransmitting, over the network, the playlist to the media presentationdevice.
 17. The computing device of claim 16 further comprising:criteria determining logic, executed by the processor, for determining afilter criterion associated with the media presentation device; playlistediting logic, executed by the processor, for editing the playlist basedon the filter criterion.
 18. The computing device of claim 17, furthercomprising: user presence detection logic, executed by the processor,for detecting arrivals or departures of users at the physical location;and filter criteria editing logic, executed by the processor, forediting the filter criterion associated with the media presentationdevice based on the arrivals and departures.
 19. The apparatus of claim18, further comprising: media popularity determining logic, executed bythe processor, for each of the plurality of media files included in theplaylist, to determine a number of the plurality of users that like eachmedia file; ranking logic, executed by the processor, for ranking theplurality of media files based on the number of users that like eachmedia file such that a media file liked by a majority of the pluralityof users is ranked first; arranging logic, executed by the processor,for arranging the plurality of media files in the playlist based on therank of each media file.
 20. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein thefilter criteria comprises an identification of one of the plurality ofmedia files to be removed from the playlist.